Paul Finebaum questions Alabama's athletic department amid Brandon Miller situation

The story at Alabama surrounding Brandon Miller was already bad enough considering the details. However, the way some within the program and at the university have handled the matter has only poured more gasoline on that fire. Now, after yet another misstep this weekend, Paul Finebaum wants to know what on Earth is going on down in Tuscaloosa.

Finebaum called out the way the Crimson Tide have handled the situation on ‘McElroy and Cubelic In The Morning’. He said the fact that this has become a national story is solely on them. From there, he says this has become less the fault of Miller and head coach Nate Oats and more so on AD Greg Byrne for how poorly the PR side of it all has looked as the last week has gone on.

“I think it keeps getting worse…This has now become the number one story in college basketball. There’s nowhere for it to go but down in terms of the public criticism,” Finebaum said. “It’s just now become vogue around the country to slam Alabama. I saw a headline in the New York Post today that was just utterly painful to look at if you’re an Alabama fan. And I see it across the country. I saw The Today Show yesterday and they’re covering it.”

“And the saddest part is that Alabama could not have stopped the story. But they could have, perhaps, slowed it down. And then Saturday happened and blame is to be shared by many, many people,” Finebaum said. “But, ultimately, this goes beyond Nate Oats. You have to wonder and seriously question the leadership in the Alabama athletic department.

“I’m not saying that we’re all aware of what happens in pregame. But somebody is. And when you’re in the public spotlight like Alabama has been? And you’re under constant fire? You have to call the entire team in and say let’s go over every aspect. Is there anything we’re missing here? That one was missed badly on Saturday. And, ultimately, the athletic director is in charge and that’s Greg Byrne.”

Oats’ comments to start the week were bad enough. Then, after their win over Arkansas this weekend, the program made more apologies after a player frisked Miller during pregame introductions. It sounds as though that’s been his usual intro all season long but, still, it’s another example of how bad things have come across from the Crimson Tide.

Considering the circumstances, many will criticize simply because they can. With that said, the Tide shouldn’t be making it any easier to do so and, with how they’ve managed it over the last week, it has Finebaum seriously questioning the people at the top down at Alabama.